The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the death sentence handed to Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Honours Hotel, in connection with the murder of Timothy Adegoke, an ex-Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Delivering its judgment on Thursday, the appellate court affirmed the decision of the Osun State High Court, which had convicted and sentenced Ramon Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Ramon Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part. The Court of Appeal held that Adedoyin was properly convicted and sentenced to death,” the court ruled.
However, the appellate court set aside the High Court’s orders for the forfeiture of Hilton Hotel and the provision of educational scholarships for Adegoke’s children by Adedoyin and other defendants.
Adegoke’s tragic death dates back to November 2021 when he was found dead after lodging at Adedoyin’s Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife. The deceased was buried in January 2022 in his hometown, Eruwa, Oyo State, amid sorrowful scenes, including his widow’s inconsolable grief.
During the trial, critical testimonies revealed chilling details of the crime. Investigative Police Officer Afeez Olaniyan narrated how staffers of the hotel, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, admitted to evacuating Adegoke’s corpse in a Hilux van, driven by Adedoyin’s son, and dumping it in the bush.
A consultant pathologist, Dr. Waheed Oluogun, testified that Adegoke’s death resulted from severe hemorrhage caused by a traumatic injury.
The appellate court’s decision further solidifies the commitment to justice in the high-profile case, with Adedoyin’s conviction sending a strong message about accountability for violent cr